New England: American Heritage Charter

New England, Living History

The U.S. Northeast reverberates with the echoes of a dramatic past. From whaling and witch trials to industrialist estates and politicians playgrounds, here America’s history is intrinsically woven into the fabric of contemporary life. A luxury yacht charter in New England docks at tiny port towns of yesteryear, where loyalist tradition calls for tea and biscuits at 4:00pm and men continue to don ascots and sport coats for happy hour. Just a few leagues away, bustling cities offer great shopping, restaurants, museums and entertainment. The most popular charter itineraries embark from Newport and include famous ports like Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Begin the day with water play. Spend the afternoon shopping in a picture postcard town. Experience a New England clam bake as the sun goes down. Have a night cap on the aft deck with new friends.

Newport, RI

New England – Newport Harbor

Classic sailing yachts are head turners in Newport’s charismatic harbor. The colonial-era port is resplendent with wooden ships on the water and lavish mansions on the hills. Racing yachts, from J-class sailboats to tall ships, hold festive competitions throughout the summer. Nearby, historic Block Island offers 32 miles of trails, perfect for a biking or hiking excursion. En route, find a keepsake treasure at one of the antique shops and art galleries.

New England – Cape Cod Ports

Pilgrim’s landed the Mayflower at Plymouth, Massachusetts, followed by intrepid settlers. They founded shoreside towns around the hook-shaped peninsula and nearby islands including Martha’s Vineyard and Nantuckett.

Martha’s Vineyard, the summer enclave of the rich and famous, is resplendent with flowers and brightly painted cottages. Dock at the busy main port, Vineyard Haven, to browse an array of trendy shops. Oak Bluffs has the leisurely seduction of a Victorian boardwalk. Edgartown’s tiny streets are lined with chic boutiques, stately whaling captains’ homes, and charming inns.

Nantucket in the early 1800s was the whaling capital of the world. Well-heeled shipowners and sea captains built elegant mansions, beautifully preserved by strict building codes initiated in the 1950s. The entire town of Nantucket is a National Historic District, with over 800 pre-1850 structures at its core.

New England – Maine Highlights

Rustic and rocky, the coastline is dotted with picture book waterfront towns. Yachting along this shore is an adventure of diversity. The coast gets noticeably rugged as you cruise further north, culminating in Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island. Explore historic sites, museums, galleries, and shops in the larger towns. Peruse antiques and craft shops, waterfront pubs and lobster shacks in the smaller towns and fishing villages. Hike through fragrant pine forests. Swim beneath a lighthouse. Watch the lobstermen at work.

Bar Harbor, Maine, was most aptly incorporated as Eden on February 23, 1796. On your approach, the mountains of Mount Desert Island viewed from your yacht are striking. Dock at the town pier. Stretch your sea legs on the picturesque and historic Shore Path, originally created about 1880. Then take a stroll down West Street, a National Historic District, lined with many stately old mansions and lovely shops and galleries. Stop in at the Abbe Museum to learn about the Maine’s indigenous tribes collectively known as the Wabanaki.

For charter guests that brought their pup along, Bar Harbor is a wonderfully dog-friendly town. Even Acadia National Park, a must for nature lovers, welcomes your pup. One of the favorite off-leash venues is Little Long Pond, a private space to run and play along wooded trails, meadows, and a nice big pond. Leashed dogs are even allowed on the park’s buses and carriages to get around. There are plenty of dog-loving establishments as well. Stewman’s Lobster Pound has gorgeous ocean views for dog and human alike; the doggie menu includes a cheeseburger patty. Just one of many hotels that love dogs, West Street Hotel’s dog package includes a jar of doggie biscuits and a dog-friendly patio restaurant.

Penobscot Bay is forty miles long by twenty miles wide, with hundreds of picturesque islands, secluded anchorages, quaint fishing villages, and working harbors. Cruising along the shore between Camden, Rockport and Rockland are the opulent estates with sweeping lawns and manicured gardens. Wake at sunrise to experience the bay as “flat as a mirror”. Morning coffee on the aft deck brings the sights and sounds of ducks and gulls, seals and fish, heading up the bay.

Monhegan Island has inspired artists with its isolation, beautiful wilderness areas, quiet relaxed atmosphere, and slow, easy pace, for more than 100 years. This small, rocky Island is ten miles from the nearest mainland and accessible only by boat. There is a charming village with shops, restaurants, museum and brewery. There are no cars or paved roads, but 12 miles of terrific hiking trails to explore. Besides the seasonal artist colony, the year-round population seldom exceeds 65 stalwart people who harvest from the sea, fishing and lobstering.

Some of our favorite places:

Mytoi Garens, Chappaquiddick Island: is a serene Japanese garden environment of exotic and native plantings. Winding footpaths take visitors through a birch walk, camellia dell, stone garden, and hillside garden.

Company of the Cauldron, Nantucket Historic District: Tables are aglow in candlelight with views of the open kitchen. The one prix-fixe menu per evening is always sensational. Classical harp music heightens the romantic ambience three evenings per week.

Hinckley Company, Southwest Harbor (Bar Harbor) renowned for their beautifully made boats, offers a fascinating look at their shipyard and craftsmen at work.

Contact Select Yachts will present you with a superb selection of charter yachts available in New England that meet your requirements. Whether you envision a leisurely sail from port to port, or want to spectate or participate in one of the thrilling races and regattas in the region, we will match you with the perfect yacht and crew.